Public Accountability Report

Established in 1973 as a Cabinet-level agency, the Illinois Department on Aging (IDoA) was created to emphasize the state’s commitment to a coordinated approach in developing programs tailored to serve its older adult population. This initiative reflected the priorities of state leaders, policymakers, stakeholders, and residents in ensuring the well-being of older Illinoisans. IDoA’s mission is to advocate for and serve the state’s aging population and their caregivers by administering high-quality, culturally appropriate programs that foster partnerships, promote independence, preserve dignity, and enhance the quality of life.

IDoA addresses the evolving needs of older adults through a wide range of services. These include planning, implementing, and monitoring home and community-based services provided by the Aging network, coordinating efforts with local community agencies, advocating for the needs of older Illinoisans, and collaborating with federal, state, and local agencies to develop evidence-based initiatives.

Key programs and services provided by IDoA include the following:

The Community Care Program (CCP) under IDoA has contracts with 34 Care Coordination Units (CCUs) operating across 59 contracted service areas. Alongside numerous direct service providers, IDoA strives to ensure older adults have access to comprehensive services and supports across the state. CCP includes the 1915(c) Home and Community Based Services “Persons who are Elderly Waiver.” CCP is designed to delay or prevent unnecessary nursing facility placement by offering services that promote independence in home and community settings. CCUs complete a person-centered comprehensive assessment of a participant’s needs and work with the older adult, family, and friends (as authorized representatives) to create person-centered plans of care that connect them with Elderly Waiver services (if they are determined eligible) and other community-based services and supports. In fiscal year 2025, CCP provided services to over 92,000 individuals, including Elderly Waiver services: Comprehensive Care Coordination, In-Home Services (Home Care Aides), Adult Day Services, Emergency Home Response Services, and Automated Medication Dispensers.

The Adult Protective Services Program handled over 23,000 reports of abuse, neglect, abandonment, and exploitation (ANE) involving individuals over age 60 and adults with disabilities aged 18 to 59. Complementing this is the Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program (LTCOP), which advocates for the rights of residents in long-term care facilities who request its assistance, and the Home Care Ombudsmen, who advocate for those who request assistance in home and community-based settings and are either eligible for the Elderly Waiver or the Medicare-Medicaid Alignment Initiative (MMAI).

IDoA, in partnership with its 13 Area Agencies on Aging (AAAs), serves approximately 500,000 older adults annually. We anticipate the need for services will continue to grow as the number of older adults increases. This will particularly affect people aged 85 and over because they’re the fastest growing segment of the older population. In addition to serving older adults, efforts extend to caregivers and grandparents raising grandchildren, as well as volunteer and intergenerational initiatives that strengthen community connections. The Caregiver Support Services grant bolsters the National Family Caregiver Support Program by offering resources such as counseling, training, respite, support groups, and supplemental services, including gap-filling and legal assistance.